Foldable sheet holder



Nov. 9, 1965 c` N. cRoss FOLDABLE SHEET HOLDER Filed Sept. 9, 1963 UAW/eau A/. @e

United States Patent Oice 3,216,582 FOLBABLE SHEET HOLDER Carroll N. Cross, Rte. 2, Box 741, Maitland, Fla. Filed Sept. 9, 1963, Ser. No. 311,276 The portion of the term of the patent subsequent to Oct. 3, 1978, has been disclaimed 5 Claims. (Cl. 2li-5G) This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 830,244, led July 29, 1959, for Foldable Sheet Holder.

The invention herein relates to a holder for sheet material, such as envelopes, note paper, paper napkins, memo pads, calendars, and the like. More particularly, the invention is concerned with a sheet holder which can be manufactured cheaply of paper stock and which can be shipped and stored in the form of a flat, foldable device adapted for self-sustaining erection into its ultimate form at the point of sale or in the home of the purchaser. Heretofore similar holders have been constructed of stiff, cast metal or molded plastics shaped into their ultimate form at the point of fabrication. Such holders presented obvious storage and shipping problems which are avoided by the foldable structure herein.

Efforts to construct foldable paper stock holders of the type to which this invention relates have met with no success for the reason that cardboard and similar paper stock materials possess a high degree of resilience which develops so much potential energy under bendingr stress as to cause recoil of the folded elements when the stress is removed.

U-shaped holders adapted to receive and hold letters, bills, etc. between the upright panels cannot have restrictive tongues or interconnection between them. Thus, all prior U-shaped holders of this type have relied on rigid upright panels unable to hold inserted material snugly unless filled to capacity because they provided no means for restricting the article holding space formed between the confronting faces of the upright panels.

It is, therefore, another principal objective of this invention to :provide a holder capable of holding a few sheets as well as a medium or large number equally well. This objective is accomplished by the structure herein which comprises a pair of upright panels rotatively attached to a base element such that while the space between the panels at the base element is fixed, the panels can be rotated toward each other to constrict the space between the free ends of the panels. With a structure, as stated, the panels may be rotated toward each other as the thickness of the contents is reduced to maintain the free edges of the panels in firm holding contact with the contents. Furthermore, relatively large and heavy objects can be held in upright position, without collapse of the holder, by rotating the upright holding panels into an upwardly converging position of repose.

This invention, therefore, contemplates a holder fabricated principally of paper stock materials which can be folded from flat, panel-like form into its ultimate shape and which is so conditioned that it will retain the shape into which it is positioned without danger of change or collapse.

The objects of the invention are attained by first substantially eliminating the native resilience of the paperboard in the area in which it is to be rotated or folded,

3,Zl(i,582 Patented Nov. 9, 1965 and then adding to the structure a sheet of bendable material which is easily bent and which is substantially formretaining when deformed as by bending.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will appear from the following description when read in light of the drawing in which like reference numerals indicate like parts, and in which:

FIG. l is a perspective view of a sheet holder which embodies the invention herein, showing the holder erected into its ultimate form;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view on line 2-2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the holder showing the same in flat form prior to erection, parts being broken away to show underlying structure; and

FIG. 4 is a plan view of cardboard stock including a plurality of panels and cut-outs.

As shown in FIG. 1, the sheet holder 10 of FIGS. l through 4 is an open ended structure consisting of a bottom wall 12 which constitutes a base panel assembly, a face panel assembly 14 and a back panel assembly 15, both joined to and extending upwardly from the base panel assembly 12 in generally parallel relationship. While the face panel assembly 14 and the back panel assembly 16 are preferably formed of two boards, these upright panels may each comprise a single cardboard panel, as long as it has form-retaining capabilities. Also, the base panel assembly 12 may be composed of either a single board or multiple boards.

The body of the holder in a presently preferred embodiment is formed from a sheet of cardboard 18 which as seen in FIG. 4 is suitably cut and scored to permit the folding thereof. The body sheet 18 is rectangular lin form, the width thereof being determined by the desired width of the ultimate holder and the length thereof being determined principally by the number of plies of cardboard to be embodied in the upstanding panels, or panel assemblies 14 and 16. The body sheet 18 is scored along transverse parallel lines 2i), 22 and 24 which separate the sheet into foldable panel sections 26, 28, 30, 32 and 34. A base :panel 36 is formed between the panel sections 23 and 30. The base panel 35 is defined at its lateral edges by a pair of spaced parallel hinge lines which may be scored lines similar to the score lines defining the panel sections of the opstanding panels or panel assemblies 14 and 16, but preferably a pair of slots 3S and 43 are cut into the sheet. These slots are spaced as determined by the desired width of the base panel 36 and extending parallel to each other either yacross or substantially across the width of the sheet 1S. It is contemplated that the base panel may be formed as an element separated from the adjacent panels. However, some connection with them, such as a flexible binding material, facilitates the fabricating process.

By cutting through the cardboard material of the body sheet along the edges of the base panel 36, the flexibility and resilience normally found in cardboard stock is substantially destroyed. Therefore, if a slot or a throughcut is formed along an intended fold line, the sheet can be folded along such lines without developing in the cardboard potential energy tending to undo the fold when relieved of the folding stress. Such scored or cut stock, however, will not of itself be form-retaining when folded on the scored or cut lines.

If desired, the body sheet 18 may also be cut to form a well 42 and a display window 44 for receiving and displaying suitable display material, such as a picture or a calendar sheet. The display material receiving well 42 and the display window 44 may be formed in accordance with the technique taught in my Patent 2,355,706, issued Aug. l5, 1944.

A thin sheet of flexible, bendable material 46 is -placed on the :panel sections 28, 30 and 36 such that it extends over the score lines or slots 38 and 40. The bendable material is utilized for the purpose of rendering the panels 28 and 30 self-sustaining when folded on the bottom fold lines. The bendable sheet 46 is a material which is tractable and displays a mechanical hysteresis to change the form after bending. Any number of such materials are available to those skilled in the art. Bendable metal sheets may be employed to good advantage. In two specific applications of the structure, bendable tin plate and bendable aluminum having a thickness of about .010 of an inch have demonstrated its utility. It is contemplated that the specific bendable material and the thickness lof the sheet will be chosen according to the requirements of the holder and will bear some relation to the size and purpose of the holder. Tin sheet lends itself ideally to the purposes of the invention, but similar thin, flexible sheets of other metals, such `as aluminum, zinc, copper or lead are equally useful in some structures.

In multi-panel assemblies, after the bendable sheet has been placed on the body sheet 18, as stated, the panel section 26 is rotated inwardly along the score line 20 such that one end of the bendable sheet is sandwiched between the panel sections 26 and 28. The panel section 32 is rotated inwardly along the score lin-e 22 such that the other end 'of the bendable sheet is sandwiched between the panels 30 and 32, and the panel section 34 is rotated outwardly along the score line 24 such that it is in face-to-face relation with the panel section 32. The folded relationship of the several panels can be observed in FIG. 2 wherein it can be seen that the face panel assembly 14 is composed of the panel sections 30, 32 and 34 while the back panel assembly 16 is composed of the panel sections 26 and 28. As thus constituted, the thin, flexible, bendable sheet 46 is disposed between the panel sections 30 and 32 in the face panel assembly 14 and between the panel sections 26 and 28 in the back panel assembly 16. In the preferred form of the invention, it is desirable to glue or paste the bendable sheet 46 to one side of three panels 28, 30 and 36. In this form, adjacent panels 26, 32 and 34 are not essential.

The folded assembly may be bound together by means of `a thin, exible, decorative binding material 48 which may be a treated paper known in the trade as Leatherette. The binding material 48 is adhesively attached to the facial surface of the folded assembly and is wrapped about the edges thereof such that the margins of the binding material terminate on the opposite face of the assembly. A suitable lining sheet 50 may be adhesively attached to the inner face of the assembly. If the holder is to be used for note paper and envelopes, the lining sheet 50 may be suitably ruled and printed for the entry of data such as birthdays, anniversaries, and the like.

As stated, it is contemplated that the holder may be manufactured, stored, and shipped in ilat form such as shown in FIG. 3. With the structure above described, it is a simple matter to fold the assembly along the hinge lines 38 and 40, such that t-he panel assemblies 14 and 16 are erected into the upright position shown in FIG. 1. By reason of the destruction of the inherent resilience of the body sheet material at the hinge lines 38 and 40, and the addition of the bendable sheet 46, the panel assemblies 14 and 16, or panels 28 and 30, will stay in any' position into which they are folded. This fact lends an added utility to the structure. Ordinarily, the panel assemblies 14 and 16, or panels 28 and 30, will be folded upwardly into parllklism and the space between them will be substantially filled with the sheet material for which the holder is designed. This upward rotation of side panels is facilitated by the spaces 38 and 4t) provided between the base panel 36 and respective side panels 23 and 30. These spaces effectively accommodate the deformation of the bendable sheet material which `occurs at the hinge lines when the sheet is ilexed thereat. As the supply of articles in the holder diminishes, the free edges of the face panel assembly 14 and the back panel assembly 16 can be brought closer together to reduce the gap between the panel assemblies. This, in effect, accommodates the holder to the diminishing supply 'of articles therein, such that the articles are rmly retained at all times without respect to whether it is lled to its maximum capacity, and with no danger of tipping over even with substantially heavy contents.

In any form of the invention, the bendable metal sheet which is embodied in the structure will comprise a selfsustaining element which shows no tendency toward collapse or toward return to its predeformed plane.

Tin sheet is well adapted to the invention when it embodies structures which must show a substantial resistance to collapse, and particularly when the structures are of the kind which, when erected, are subjected to little or no further bending. On the other hand, softer metal sheet, Such as aluminum sheet, is well suited to structures which are intended to withstand little force, but may be subjected to more frequent angular adjustment.

The rigidity of the structure is improved by connecting the bendable sheet and the cardboard panels with which it is assembled. Such connection can be eifected by resort to staples, wire stitching, gluing, or the like. The flexible edge binding also contributes to the strength of the structures.

While the nov-el features of the invention have been illustrated and described in connection with a specic embodiment of the invention, it is believed that this embodiment will enable others skilled in the art to apply the principles of the invention in forms departing from the exemplary embodiment herein, and such departures are contemplated by the claims.

I claim:

1. A holder for sheet-like articles adapted for erection into an upright generally U-shaped form, comprising a plurality of panels constructed of relatively rigid cardboard stock; said panels including a face panel, a back panel, Iand a base panel interposed between said face panel and said back panel; adjacent edges `of said face panel, said back panel and said base panel being spaced apart throughout at least the significant major portion of their length; interconnecting means including bendable sheet metal means lspanning the spaces between the respectively adjacent edges of said face panel, said back panel and said base panel and in contact with and held in place against at least a portion of each panel; said spaces determining the lines of bending of said sheet metal means.

2. The structure 'of claim 1, in which said spaces are formed by slots cut through said cardboard stock.

3. The structure of claim 1, in which said bendable sheet metal means is adhesively fixed to said Panels.

4. The structure of claim 1, in which said face panel and said back panel are assemblies comprised of at least a pair of substantially coextensive members folded into face-to-face relationship, and ends of said bendable sheet metal means are disposed between the members of said assemblies.

5. A generally U-sha-ped support for sheet-like articles, comprising a plurality of panels constructed of relatively rigid cardboard stock; said panels including a face panel, a back panel, and `a base panel interposed between said face panel and said back panel; adjacent edges of said face panel, said back panel and said base panel being spaced apart throughout at least the significant major portion of their length; interconnecting means including bendable sheet metal means spanning the spaces between the respectively adjacent edges of said face panel, said back panel and said base panel and in Contact with and held in place against at least a portion of each panel for maintaining said face and back panels in selected upright positions; said spaces determining the lines of bending of said sheet metal means.

6 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,012,117 8/35 Barron 24S-174 2,200,867 5/ 40 Weltmer 20G-45 .33 2,822,860 2/ 58 Calabrese 248174 2,985,417 5/61 Thompson 248-214 CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Primary Examiner.

10 FRANK L. ABBOTT, Examiner. 

1. A HOLDER FOR SHEET-LIKE ARTICLES ADAPTED FOR ERECTION INTO AN UPRIGHT GENERALLY U-SHAPED FORM, COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF PANELS CONSTRUCTED OF RELATIVELY RIGID CARDBOARD STOCK; SAID PANELS INCLUDING A FACE PANEL, A BACK PANEL, AND A BASE PANEL INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID FACE PANEL AND SAID BACK PANEL; ADJACENT EDGES OF SAID FACE PANEL, SAID BACK PANEL AND SAID BASE PANEL BEING SPACED APART THROUGHOUT AT LEAST THE SIGNIFICANT MAJOR PORTION OF THEIR LENGTH; INTERCONNECTING MEANS INCLUDING BENDABLE SHEET METAL MEANS SPANNING THE SPACES BETWEEN THE RESPECTIVELY ADJACENT EDGES OF SAID FACE PANEL, SAID BACK PANEL AND SAID BASE PANEL AND IN CONTACT WITH AND HELD IN PLACE AGAINST AT LEAST A PORTION OF EACH PANEL; SAID SPACES DETERMINING THE LINES OF BENDING OF SAID SHEET METAL MEANS. 